Private sector encouraged to cooperate with govt to provide healthy school food

SHAH ALAM, July 3 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry is encouraging the private sector to work closely with the government to provide nutritious meals to schoolchildren primarily from the lower income group (B40).

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching said the two sectors should jointly work together as some 60 per cent of children under five years of age, in Malaysia are facing stunted growth, weight loss and obesity.

He said the percentage was highlighted in the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Report last year and its cause was due to malnutrition and unhealthy food consumption practices.

“The report shows 22 per cent of children under five in the country suffer from stunting, 15 per cent are underweight and 23 per cent are obese. Lack of proper nutrients is a form of denial of rights, especially for children who are still growing.

“Hence, the government is encouraging private companies to organise various programmes to provide healthy food for these children because we want them to grow up to be healthy for the future of the country,” he told reporters after launching the NuMee 2019 healthy eating programme at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Jelutong, here today.

Commenting on the programme, Teo said Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd (Gardenia)’s contribution of 20,400 packets of NuMee Gardenia brand yellow noodles, their newest product, to selected schools nationwide was commendable and should be followed by more private companies.

Teo said the contribution of such healthy food to schoolchildren by the private sector was also seen as supporting the government’s desire to implement a nutritious and free breakfast programme to children using the sugar tax revenue next year.

The NuMee 2019 healthy eating programme involves 100 school canteens across the country where 20,400 packets of NuMee Gardenia will be distributed free of charge and it can serve 122,400 healthy meals to pupils in these schools.

In addition, through the programme, Gardenia also provides recipes and methods of preparing a balanced diet for children to school canteen operators.

Commenting on the latest Gardenia product, the company’s chairman  Datuk Mohammad Zainal Shaari said since its launch in mid-May, NuMee Gardenia which obtained Halal certification from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), has sold about 2 million packets nationwide.

-- BERNAMA